If you’re trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle, Christmas can be a real setback. Watching your diet is next to impossible with so many Christmas feasts to tempt you. Germs are hard to avoid on a train or plane ride to visit relatives. And, if travelling doesn’t make you sick, a little too much Christmas eggnog just might. Follow this advice to keep yourself healthy during the Christmas season.
Make Healthy Food And Drink Choices
- Whether you’re hosting the family Christmas festivities or simply attending, keep yourself focused more on fun traditions and activities and less on dinner and dessert
- Go light on the gravy. Using less sauce or gravy on your foods should lead to a healthier meal
- If you’re having a traditional Christmas dinner, reach for the vegetables. Items such as sprouts and carrots tend to contain less calories than meat and potatoes
- Don’t underestimate a healthy breakfast. A good breakfast can keep you from feeling hungry later in the day and from reaching for less-than-healthy Christmas treats
- Chew gum after eating a meal to help resist the urge for after-dinner snacks
- Drink plenty of water. It’s easy to forget to stay hydrated at Christmas, especially if it gets cold where you live
- Instead of sweets, encourage your family to eat fruits like apples and oranges. They’re a healthier way to satisfy cravings for sweets
- If you’re going to be drinking wine or eggnog, make sure you know your limits. A Christmas morning hangover can be devastating, especially if you’re going to be around excited kids who want to open presents
- For every alcoholic drink, try to also drink a glass of water. This will leave you feeling hydrated and hangover free the next morning
Staying Active
- Plan fun family activities that get you moving. Sledding or ice skating are both fitness-friendly options
- If you’ll be staying in a hotel over Christmas, try to find one with a pool or fitness centre. This will give you a place to get active in between family functions
- Keep yourself active, even if you’re travelling. If you have to wait for your flight to be ready to board, walk around the airport terminal rather than sitting to wait
- Consider using a fitness app on your smartphone to set fitness goals and keep track of how much exercise you get over the holidays
General Health Tips
- Avoid stress. It can make you feel anxious and irritable and even has a negative impact on your immune system
- If you plan to travel using mass transit, carry sanitary wipes with you and wipe down surfaces in your area. Make sure you get the armrests, tray table and seat belt buckle
Cut Yourself Some Slack
It is possible to stay healthy during the Christmas season. But if you do slip up, it’s important to remember not to get down on yourself, in the event you “slip up” during the Christmas holiday season. After all, it’s typically the time to spend with family and friends enjoying yourself.
You can always get back on track once Christmas is over. That’s what the new year is for, or so the experts say. If it makes you feel better, you can even try to be a bit more health-conscious in January and February. Things usually have a way of evening out!